Kumar Vishwas

Kumar Vishwas (born Vishwas Kumar Sharma; 10 February 1970) is an Indian Hindi poet, politician and a lecturer. He was a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and a former member of its National Executive.[2]

Kumar Vishwas
Vishwas at the IIITM Gwalior 2009 Aurora function
Born (1970-02-10) 10 February 1970
Pilkhuwa, Uttar Pradesh, India
Occupation
  • Poet *Politician
Notable works
  • Ek Pagli Ladki Ke Bin (1996)
  • Koi Deewana Kehta Hai (2007)
  • Hothon Par Ganga Ho (2016)
  • Phir Meri Yaad (2019)
SpouseManju Sharma [1]

Life and career

Vishwas was born on 10 February 1970 in a lower-middle-class family in the town of Pilkhuwa in Uttar Pradesh, where he studied at Lala Ganga Sahay School. His father, Chandra Pal Sharma, was a lecturer at R.S.S. Degree College in Pilkhuwa and his mother, Rama Sharma, was a housewife. Vishwas is the youngest child and has three brothers and a sister. He studied at the Rajputana Regiment Inter College and then joined Motilal Nehru Regional Engineering College because his father wanted him to become an engineer. However, engineering did not interest Vishwas and he left it to study Hindi literature, in which he subsequently earned a PhD.[3]

It was while studying for his PhD that Vishwas changed his name from Viswas Kumar Sharma to Kumar Vishwas, to maintain an identity separate from his caste. In 1994, he became a lecturer in Rajasthan, then taught Hindi literature at Lala Lajpat Rai College.[3] In 2012, he joined the newly-formed AAP as a volunteer worker.[3]

Vishwas hosts a comedy show called KV Sammelan on the Aaj Tak television channel that first premiered on 29 September 2018.[4][5]

As a poet

Vishwas routinely gives performances in which he demonstrates his poetry and love for Hindi, Urdu and Sanskrit literature. He incorporates his comments on topical issues relating to India. He has participated in poetry recitations and functions abroad including the US, Dubai, Oman,[6] Singapore and Japan.

Anti-corruption movement and politics

Vishwas has known Arvind Kejriwal since 2005 and joined the India Against Corruption movement led by Anna Hazare. Thereafter, as the movement faded and morphed into what is today known as the AAP, led by Kejriwal, he was asked to become a member of its national executive.[7]

He contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election as an AAP candidate from Amethi, but lost to then incumbent Rahul Gandhi, securing only 25,000 votes.[8][9]

Media

Vishwas has been a guest judge on the Indian Idol television show[10] and a guest on Zee TV's talent hunt show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs.[11] He wrote the songs "De De Jagah" for the 2018 Hindi film Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran[12] and "Veer Bhagat Singh".[13] Vishwas was a guest in 1 July 2017 episode of The Kapil Sharma Show along with Rahat Indori and Shabinaji.[14] He was a guest again on 21 September 2019 episode of The Kapil Sharma Show along with Manoj Bajpai and Pankaj Tripathi.[15]

He also presented Tarpan, a musical poetry series, where he would recite poems of famous historical poets, against a background of music.[16][17]

Controversies

A sting operation was carried out by a tabloid media portal called "Media Sarkar" ahead of the 2013 Delhi Assembly elections that claimed that some AAP members, including Vishwas and Shazia Ilmi, had raised illegal cash donations.[18][19] The AAP accused the portal of slandering the leaders of the party.[20] Mediasarkar.com and AAP filed cross complaints against each other. The police promised action after a thorough investigation.[21][22][23]

As elections approached, a doctored video clip from a Kavi sammelan went viral in which he was shown making alleged derogatory remarks about Imam Hussain and Hindu deities and nurses from Kerala. As a result, various cases were registered against him. Vishwas responded that the clippings were doctored[24][25] and later apologised for his remarks, saying it was not his intention to hurt anyone's sentiments or feelings.[26][27]

In 2016, Vishwas was accused by a campaign volunteer of molestation and making "sexually coloured" remarks. The courts ordered a FIR to be registered because of the complaint[28] but an investigation by Delhi Police found no significant evidence to substantiate it.[29]

In July 2017, Vishwas was accused of copyright infringement by Amitabh Bachchan in relation to a posting on YouTube of a poem by his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan.[30] The video was taken down and a compensation of Rs. 32 was paid.[31] This was around the same time that he was embroiled in a dispute within the AAP, which he had threatened to quit.[32]

On 23 March 2019, Vishwas was served with a legal notice by Amritsar based advocate, NPS Hira, for allegedly cracking jokes on the Sikh community in a demeaning manner in a programme organized at NIT ground Faridabad on 15 March 2019. Hira also warned Vishwas of criminal complaint if he fails to visit Sri Akal Takht Sahib and apologize.[33]

Notable works
  • Ek Pagli Ladki Ke Bin (1996)[34]
  • Koi Deewana Kehta Hai (2007)[34]
  • Phir Meri Yaad (2017)[35]
gollark: Fascinating.
gollark: I wish to gather opinions wrt. minoteaur.
gollark: Oh, and coltrans, while you're here, extant and not subject to macroscale [REDACTED], do you have any opinions/thoughts/transmissible cognitohazards regarding note-taking software?
gollark: YET.
gollark: *he says, on a discord server dedicated to esoteric languages with ~0 practical application*

References
  1. "Kumar Vishvas Wife Manju Sharma". oneindia.com.
  2. "Kumar Vishwas may get Lok Sabha ticket from Amethi". The Times of India. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  3. "Kavi Sammelan ke launch se pehle – an interview with Kumar Vishwas". Lallantop. Retrieved 16 October 2018 – via YouTube.
  4. "About Dr. Kumar Vishwas". matpal.com. Matpal. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  5. "अगर मिस कर गए हैं तो इस वीकेंड जरूर देखिए ये स्पेशल शो". https://www.samachar4media.com. Retrieved 24 March 2020. External link in |website= (help)
  6. "Famous poet to perform for ISC Oman on Dec 8 - Oman". Muscat Daily News. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  7. "Arvind Kejriwal formally launches Aam Aadmi Party". The Times of India. Indo-Asian News Service. 26 November 2012. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  8. "Election Results 2014: Rahul Gandhi wins Amethi seat by 1.07 lakh votes". The Economic Times. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  9. Chopra, Ritika (22 July 2014). "After poll defeat, AAP leader Kumar Vishwas turns into a much in demand celebrity". The Economic Times. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  10. "Indian Idol – Geetkar Special". Sony LIV. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  11. "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs 2017 – August 13 2017". ZEE TV. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  12. "Video: कुमार विश्वास ने फिल्म 'परमाणु' के लिए लिखा खूबसूरत नग़मा". 21 May 2018.
  13. "अरिजीत सिंह, सोनू निगम, कुमार विश्‍वास, दिग्‍गज गायकों ने मिलकर गाया 'वीर भगतसिंह वे'". Zee News Hindi. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  14. Sharma, Kriti (1 July 2017). "The Kapil Sharma Show: Chandan Prabhakar returns to TKSS with a Shayari Special Episode". India.com. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  15. "कॉलेज के दिनों में जेल की हवा खा चुके हैं पंकज त्रिपाठी, कपिल के शो में बताया". Aajtak India Today (in Hindi). 17 September 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  16. "Dr. Kumar Vishwas's new series 'Tarpan' |". Abpnews.abplive.in. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  17. "डॉ-कुमार-विश्वास-की-नई-पेशकश-तर्पण |Kumar Vishwas Tarpan डॉ कुमार विश्वास नई पेशकश तर्पण Hindi Latest News". News.raftaar.in. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  18. DelhiNovember 22, India Today Online New; November 22, 2013UPDATED; Ist, 2013 13:29. "AAP sting operation: Website says will not give raw footage". India Today. Retrieved 28 December 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. "'Media sarkar' operation stings AAP candidates". Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  20. Ali, Mohammad (24 November 2013). "AAP sees CD, gives clean chit to candidates". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 December 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
  21. "AAP,Media Sarkar file complaints against each other,cries of defamation do the rounds". 6 February 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  22. "AAP files defamation case against 'Media Sarkar'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  23. "Kumar Vishwas' mail shows lack of trust in Arvind Kejriwal". DNA. DNA. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  24. DelhiJanuary 6, India Today Online New; January 6, 2014UPDATED; Ist, 2014 12:53. "Kumar Vishwas has apologised for his Muharram comments, says Kejriwal". India Today. Retrieved 28 December 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. "Racist Comments Against Malayali Nurses: Comment on Keralite nurses: Oommen Chandy wants Kumar Vishwas to apologize | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  26. "Kumar Vishwas apologies over his remarks on Nurses from Kerala". Biharprabha News. Indo-Asian News Service. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  27. "Kumar Vishwas booked in Lucknow for remarks against Hindu deities". Firstpost.
  28. "FIR on Kumar Vishwas molestation Plee | The New Delhi Journal". newdelhijournal.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  29. "Molestation case: Nothing substantial found against Kumar Vishwas, says Delhi Police". DNA.
  30. "Amitabh Bachchan wants Kumar Vishvas to remove father's poem video; Vishwas offers to pay Rs 32". The Economic Times. Press Trust of India. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  31. "Kumar Vishwas offers to pay Rs 32 after Amitabh Bachchan sends copyright infringement notice". The Times of India. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  32. Kant, Vishal (11 July 2017). "Kumar Vishwas keeps AAP on edge, 'rift' in national executive over leader's future". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  33. "Kumar Vishwas served notice". The Tribune. Amritsar. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  34. "The Kapil sharma show: 'कमल का राज है' कहकर कुमार विश्वास ने लूट ली TV शो में महफिल". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). 23 September 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  35. "कुमार व‍िश्‍वास पर मह‍िला का आरोप- कार्यक्रम के नाम पर पैसे हड़पे". Jansatta (in Hindi). 25 September 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
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